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Stuck inside these four walls, sent inside forever
Never seeing no one nice again like you
Mama you, mama you

If I ever get out of here
Thought of giving it all away
To a registered charity
All I need is a pint a day
If I ever get out of here

Well, the rain exploded with a mighty crash as we fell into the sun
And the first one said to the second one there I hope you're having fun
Band On The Run, Band On The Run.
And the jailer man and Sailor Sam were searching everyone
For the band on the run
Band on the run
Band on the run
Band on the run
And the jailer man and Sailor Sam were searching every one

For the band on the run, Band on the run, Band on the run, Band on the run

Well, the undertaker drew a heavy sight seeing no one else had come
And a bell was ringing in the Village Square for the rabbits on the run

Band on the run
Band on the run
Band on the run
And the jailer man and Sailor Sam were searching every one

Band on the run
Band on the run
Band on the run
Band on the run

Well, the night was falling as the desert world began to settle down
In the town they're searching for us everywhere but we never will be found

Band on the run
Band on the run
Band on the run
Band on the run

And the County Judge, who held a grudge
Will search forevermore

For the band on the run
Band on the run
Band on the run
Band on the run

26 Comments

General CommentThis song consists of 4 different parts - confinement, desperation, escape and running.

Confinement = stuck inside these 4 walls.
desperation = if I ever get out of here
escape = well, the rain exploded
running = band on the run

The confinement part is very subdued, as if he's given up - it's reflective too. The heart starts beating faster when he's thinking about escaping and the desperation of his situation. Crash!!! The Breakout - the release - you can almost 'feel' the freedom. All that's left is to RUN! For ever more.

Paul said it was intentionally written to have several meanings - could be jail cell or trapped in life.

Song MeaningHave you ever read the book Helter Skelter? I did. It is the whole story of the Charles Manson Family Murders that occurred in L.A. CA. on Aug. 9, l969. During the trial, it came out that some of the Beatles songs were connected with this mans twisted mental state. It was surmised by the trial prosecutor, Vincent Bugliosi, (the Jailor Man) that these songs might have been a catalyst for these peoples insane behavior. Hence the title of the book. I don't remember exactly how many of the Beatles songs were involved, but two of them were Helter Skelter and Piggies both are on the White Album.

During the commission of these gruesome murders, one of the Manson family members painted the word Piggies on the walls of Sharon Tate's Mansion in the murder victim's own blood. Reportedly, an investigation of these songs, and their writers, was conducted. Somewhere I learned, it may be in the book, Charles Manson (Sailor Sam) had, at one time, been associated with the Merchant Marines in some capacity, but, at this time, I cannot document that fact.

During the Beatles career, it was a big hobby of their fans to try to uncover the hidden meaning of their songs. There were radio stations that fanned that fire by having fan call in programs for that very purpose. I was, a huge fan of the Beatles, and I was caught up in the hobby myself. I still believe that Lennon loved to play mind games with Beatles fans, and McCartney too, but to a lesser degree. From the first time I heard the song “Band On The Run,” It was obvious to me, having read Helter Skelter, that it was an expos'e of how the Tate/LaBianca Murders helped facilitate the break up of the Beatles (The Band on the Run.)

The first part of the song is Charles Manson (Sailor Sam) speaking, or thinking from his prison cell “Stuck inside these four wall, sent inside forever. Never seeing no one nice again like you mama..... (Susan Atkins aka Sadie Mae Glutz) Manson's main woman in this murderous family who was sentenced to life in prison as was he. If I ever get out of here....thought of giving it all away.........If I ever get out of here; If WE ever get out of here..... This last line is not included in the Song Meaning Lyrics written above, but if you listen to the original studio recording it is definitely there “If I ever get out of here.....If We ever get out of here?)

The second part of the song. Substitute the word reign for rain: The reign, (of the Beatles), exploded with a mighty crash, as we fell into the sun, (when things started getting hot) and the first one (McCartney) said to the second one there (Lennon) I hope you're having fun (playing these mind games.)

The Jailor Man, and Sailor Sam were searching everyone: (for any kind of proof that the beatles music
could have been at the root of these murders.)

The undertaker drew a heavy sigh seeing no one else had come, (He makes a living burying dead folks)
A bell was ringing in the village square for the rabbits on the run. ( alluding to Jefferson Airplane's song White Rabbit) Remember, this was the psychedelic era.

Night was falling (time to turn out the lights on the greatest band in history) as the desert world ( LA. County) began to settle down. In the town (LA) they're searching for us everywhere.......

And the County Judge who held a grudge, well he and the jailor man just could not find any legal way to implicate George, John, and Paul. Let him search forever more for the Beatles (The Band on the Run)

General CommentSomeone asked me recently if I were stranded on an island and could have one song only to play, what would it be?
After some deliberation, I went with this one. So much variety within one tune and, after all these years, it never seems to wear out or get old.

General CommentPersonally, I think this song is about the Beatles and how everyone was keeping them in the spotlight after they broke up and trying to force them back together. And yes, Paul is definitely a LIVING legend. :-P

General Comment4 comments on one of McCartney's greatest songs. I love the soul in his voice when he says "Rabbits on the run" in the second verse. What a voice. And I swear if you listen very closely to the backup vocal when he says, "If I ever get outta here," it sounds a lot like John Lennon. Listen to it and hear. This song always puts me in a good mood when i'm down.